Signatures for human aging

Abstract

Age and related conditions are assessed with a gene expression test that determines the expression levels of a panel of genetic markers. Each age signature contains expression information for genes in at least one functional group that is identified herein as having an expression pattern that correlates with physiological aging of a tissue or tissue of interest.

1. A method for assessing relative physiological age of a kidney sample from a human subject, the method comprising:
 determining expression information of a set of at least ten extracellular matrix protein genes associated with kidney aging selected from the group consisting of: 
 TIMP1, TFPI2, TNC, EFEMP1, SPP1, CSPG2, MMP7, MMP13, CTGF, VWF, CHI3L1, THBS2, TGFBI, ADAMTS1, POSTN, COMP, THBS4, ZP2, ECM2, LTBP1, LUM, MGP, BGN, LAMA2, TIMP2, SPARCL1, TIMP4, FBN1, GPC4, LAMA5, MATN3, FLRT3, COL9A3, FBLN1, COL17A1, COL6A3, MATN2, FMOD, THBS1, LTBP2, DGCR6, LAMC1, COL6A2, ADAMTS5, MMRN2, MMP17, KAL1, FLRT2, DAG1, LAMB2, MMP2, GPC6, SOD3, MMP3, DCN, MMP9, MMP20, TNA, DMP1, EMILIN1, COL9A2, MATN1, MMP23B, DPT, ADAMTS2, NTN2L, ADAMTS17, ADAMTS20, ADAMTS15, GPC5, FBLN2, EMILIN2, ADAMTS19, MFAP1, ADAMTS14, TNXB, ADAMTS6, MFAP3, TIMP3, NYX, ADAMTS10, OMD, WNT3, ADAMTS12, LTBP4, MMP15, LAMB3, AMBN, COL14A1, USH2A, ADAMTS7, ADAMTSI3, ADAMTS4, OPTC, RBP3, PRELP, MMPL1, GPC2, MMP27, EMID2, KERA, MEPE, DSPP, GPC3, LAMC3, EMID1, MMP16, AMELX, MMP28, ENAM, NTNG1, MMP24, CHAD, COL9A1, COL6A1, SPG7, HAS1, ASPN, TECTA, NTN1, PI3, MMP25, SPOCK, ECM1, DSPG3, MMP10, GPC1, MMP12, LAMA3, CLECSF1, MMP1, ADAMTS8, ADAMTS9, SPOCK2, ADAMTS3, MMP26, LAMB4, MMP19, HAPLN2, MMP11, FBN2, CD164L1, ELN, FLRT1, NTN4, LOX, ZP4, HAPLN1, MMP8, LAMB1, AGC1, MMP21 from a sample obtained from said subject, and using said expression information to generate an age signature for said sample; 
 comparing said age signature with a control age signature comprising:
 expression information of said at least ten extracellular matrix protein genes, 
 
 wherein a statistically significant match with a positive control or a statistically significant difference from a negative control is indicative of relative age in said sample. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said age signature further comprises expression information for a functional group selected from cytosolic ribosomal genes and electron transport chain genes.